2. Contextual Understanding of Myanmar 10 Myanmar (Burma), a country of nearly 60 million1 people and one of the world’s most diverse countries with a rich history, a wealth of cultural and religious traditions, is Asia’s last frontier with huge potential for growth and international trade. Post ethnic-war era, with the developing political and economic reforms, Myanmar is emerging as an inexorable investment destination for governments and private sector in Asia and beyond. Myanmar, with a total land area of 676,578 sq. km, is the second largest country in Southeast Asia endowed with fertile tropical deltas in the south and a rugged landscape in the Himalayan foothills to the north. It shares borders to the north and northeast with the People’s Republic of China, to the east and southeast with Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Thailand, and to the west and northwest with Bangladesh and India. The country is divided into seven states and seven regions. The seven states—Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, and Shan—mainly encompass the hilly and mountainous areas and are predominantly populated by ethnic communities. The seven regions (previously called divisions)—Ayeyarwady, Bago, Magway, Mandalay, Sagaing, Tanintharyi, and Yangon—encompass the plains and are predominantly populated by people of Bamar ethnic origin. The administrative subdivisions are further divided into districts, townships, wards, and villages. Myanmar is rich in natural resources including arable land, forests, minerals, natural gas, and freshwater and marine resources and has a 2,800 km coastline which provides access to sea routes and deep-sea ports enabling potential international trades. 2.1 POLITICAL HISTORY OF MYANMAR Various ethnic Burmese and ethnic minority city-states or kingdoms occupied the present borders of Myanmar through the 19th century. Over a period of 62 years (1824-1886), Britain conquered Burma and incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Burma was admin Myanmar 1 Central Intelligence Agency. (2014). Introduction: Burma in The World Factbook. Retreived from the websitehttps:// www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bm.html